Colorado man sentenced to 30 years in prison on drug charges

BILLINGS – A Greely, Colorado drug trafficker who led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit was sentenced today to 360 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

In October 2024, a federal jury in Billings found Moises Zamora, 40, guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Zamora has a prior federal conviction in Montana for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and he received a sentence of imprisonment in that case of ten years. See US v. Zamora, CR 21-78-GF-BMM.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over this matter.

The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on November 11, 2022, a Yellowstone County Sheriff’s deputy pulled into a convenience store parking lot in Billings and noticed a car parked in an obscure manner, away from the pumps or store entrances. As the deputy drove toward the car, he saw the driver, later identified as Zamora, point toward his patrol vehicle and then slouch in the seat. The deputy found Zamora's behavior suspicious and pulled behind the vehicle to investigate. Zamora reversed his car and drove away. The deputy activated his lights and siren, but Zamora continued driving, and a high-speed pursuit began. The chase lasted almost 10 minutes and involved speeds reaching 80 mph, with Zamora driving recklessly and entering the lane of oncoming traffic. Zamora finally stopped when he came to a dead end and was arrested.

The deputy observed two blue “M30” pills, later confirmed to be fentanyl, in the backseat. Law enforcement determined Zamora had a warrant for his arrest and was booked into the Yellowstone County Detention Center. Law enforcement served a search warrant on Zamora’s car and located approximately six pounds of meth, two fentanyl pills, three cell phones, and drug paraphernalia. Six pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 21,744 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and FBI conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.